Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrews Sisters

LyricsHe was a famous trumpet man from old Chicago wayHe had a boogie style that no one else could playHe was the top man at his craftBut then his number came up and he was gone with the draftHe's in the army now, a-blowin' reveilleHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle SamIt really brought him down because he could not jamThe Captain seemed to understandBecause the next day the Cap' went out and drafted a bandAnd now the company jumps when he plays reveilleHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

A-toot a-toot, a-toot diddle-ee-ada-tootHe blows it eight to the bar - in boogie rhythmHe can't blow a note unless the bass and guitarIs playin' with himA-and the company jumps when he plays reveilleHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company BHe was some boogie-woogie bugle boyOf Company B - oww!

And when he plays boogie-woogie bugleHe's as busy as a bzz beeAnd when he plays he makes the company jump eight to the barHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Ee-ada, toot-diddle-ee-ada toot-diddle-ee-ada - toot, tootHe blows it eight to the barHe can't blow a noteIf the bass and guitar isn't with 'imAnd the company jumps when he plays reveilleHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every nightAnd wakes them up the same way in the early brightThey clap their hands and stamp their feetBecause they know how he plays when someone gives him a beatHe really breaks it up when he plays reveilleThe boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

A-toot, a-toot, a-toot, a-toot tootHe blows it eight to the barHe can't blow a noteIf the bass and guitar isn't all with himAnd the company jumps when he plays reveilleHe's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Commentary In this song, the language is very appropriate for the 1940’s. Around that time, doo-wop songs were very popular. These songs utilized words like “boogie-woogie” and “A-toot a-toot diddle-ee-ada-toot”. This use shows that the song was probably heard throughout the population, since it was in a popular style. The use of Uncle Sam also shows that it’s from the 1940’s since we don’t refer to Uncle Sam much nowadays. From the catchy tune to the happy message, this is definitely a pro-war song. The Andrews Sisters portray the Bugle Boy’s position in the war as being a fun place to be. The Captain hires a band, the men fall asleep to the bugle every night. This is a happy scenario, not one where men go out and get killed fighting for their country. It supports President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision to go to war by asking men to join the draft. The song opens with a famous trumpeter who gets drafted, but ends having a good time in the army. This positive message pushes men to enlist in the army. One of our project’s driving questions is how war can be beneficial. As previously mentioned, this song is made in the style of popular music, which means that this song would sell a lot of copies, boosting the economy. In my opinion, the message of this song portrays a falsehood that war is glorious. However, it did help men enlist in the war, which helped our victory.